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Sunday, March 4, 2012

Control rooms have been set up to tackle water scarcity

Bidar needs Rs. 7.53 crore to tackle water scarcity
The district administration has sought Rs. 7.53 crore to tackle water scarcity in Bidar district.
A comprehensive project prepared to address water scarcity across the district was approved at a meeting of the zilla panchayat on Wednesday. This includes taluk-level proposals submitted by task forces headed by MLAs.

At the meeting to review drought relief works, Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla told officials to make sure that no village or urban area suffered from drinking water scarcity.

Control rooms have been set up at the Deputy Commissioner's office and at taluk offices. Residents can call the control room (1077) to file complaints on water scarcity.

Mr. Shukla said it was true that some areas were facing drinking water scarcity. “But the situation is under control. There is no need to provide water in tankers to any village or urban area. The Government is focussing on finding a permanent solution to the crisis and trying to provide water to habitations, wherever possible,” Mr. Shukla said. Officials who neglected their duties would be dealt with strictly, he cautioned.

Funds

In the first phase, the State Government released Rs. 50 lakh to the district for drought relief. Zilla panchayat had Rs. 10 lakh for sinking borewells. Bandeppa Kashempur, MLA for Bidar South had released Rs. 25 lakh from his local area development fund, Mr. Shukla said.

Borewells would be sunk where there was no other source of water. Installation of pipelines would be taken up under the calamity relief fund. Motors would be purchased under the 13th Finance Scheme, the Deputy Commissioner said.

Permission had been sought from the State Government to remove silt from open wells and make them deeper under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Officials had been asked to address fodder scarcity too.

An aggregated proposal of Rs. 7.53 crore was prepared for the district. It would be submitted to the State Government.